VANCOUVER -- Advocates for people with disabilities won a major concession from the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority over its planned redevelopment of the 25-acre Pearson Dogwood lands along the Cambie corridor.

The health authority scrapped plans for 37 beds for people with disabilities in an institutional setting, and instead agreed to build a friendlier community living model that is supported by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The health authority also agreed to further consultation with the city's advisory committee for people with disabilities as it moves toward a proposed rezoning of the land. In late January strong opposition from seniors and people with disabilities caused city council to refer a proposed "Pearson-Dogwood policy statement" back to staff for further discussion. The health authority wants to use the statement as a guideline for redeveloping the site.

Jill Weiss, the chairwoman of the city's disabilities advisory committee, said people strongly opposed the health authority's continued use of institutional settings, and instead advocated for a "greenhouse model" in which up to a dozen people can live in a more communal setting.

Mary Ackenhusen, the health authority's chief operating officer, said it will take about two years to rezone the site. Plans call for a new 150-bed residential facility for seniors, new "greenhouse" buildings for people with disabilities, and up to 500 residential units, one-fifth of which will be targeted to social housing. The site will also retain its urban farm.

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Vancouver council has agreed to push ahead with the long-awaited Killarney Seniors Centre even though it has not been able to get full funding from the provincial government.

In what became a politically-charged fight between the ruling Vision Vancouver park board and council, and minority Non-Partisan Association councillors and park board commissioners, the city has agreed to build a 10,000-square foot centre, complete with a commercial kitchen and elevator.

The facility was originally expected to cost $7.5 million, of which the federal, provincial and civic governments were to share costs equally. The province agreed to provide $1.3 million, and the city had already pledged $2.5 million plus land adjacent to the Killarney Community Centre. In January Vancouver South MP Wai Young said Ottawa would pitch in another $2.5 million.

But the city has so far been unable to get the remaining $1.2 million from the province, and the NPA has suggested costs may have risen to as much as $10 million.

On Tuesday both Vision and NPA agreed to get on with the project, with the city funding the balance from operating funds. Coun. Raymond Louie said he's still hopeful the province will provide more money.

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Vancouver has given the owners of the Ming Sun building in Japantown six months to come up with a restoration plan for the 122-year-old building.

In December the city appeared intent upon having the building at 439 Powell Street demolished as a hazard after it became concerned about a brick facade. The building had been vandalized and suffered a flood last year.

However, a strong community effort has rallied to save the building, and the city has backed off.

On his blog on Wednesday Coun. Geoff Meggs said council was told the owners of the building met a Jan. 31 deadline for putting together a safety plan. As a result, the city has lifted its order restricting access to the building.

Several engineering studies were conducted of the building, none of which indicated the building was structurally unsound.

A group of heritage buffs and supporters of the Ming Sun building have started a public campaign to restore the building, once known as the Russ House Hotel.

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